Applying The Yamas & Niyamas To Everyday Life

In this first session, we gain a basic understanding of the yamas and niyamas, or the underpinnings of yogic philosophy. Then, we dive into the first yama of ahimsa, meaning "nonviolence" or "compassion" and we explore the ways that compassion can affect all of our intereactions--from interactions with ourselves to loved ones to strangers and to the Earth. We also look at the places in which violence or aggression might show up in our lives--from road rage to the way we speak to ourselves to the food on our plates to microaggressions towards loved ones. Through this session, we examine the roots of any tendencies we may have towards violence and how we might release some of our harbored frustrations. We will also discover and celebrate the ways in which we are already leading compassionate lifestyles and investigate how we might further embody compassion in our daily lives.

This session is all about the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We will explore the ways in which we might tell lies to ourselves and to others, and where those lies originate (in fear, in insecurities, in cultural stories about goodness or rightness), and we will then look at the ways our energy shifts when we tell the truth. The act of lying is often done as a protective mechanism, yet it only serves to burden us further, and keeps us from looking at the truths that can allow us to heal. In this session, we will come to see just how true the maxim, "The truth will set you free."

While non-stealing might seem like a no-brainer to many taking this course, there are many ways in which we can steal that do not involve money or objects. We can steal time, energy, and the spotlight. We can even steal opportunities from ourselves--whether by self-sabatoging a loving relationship or a career goal. In this session, we will look truthfully at the ways in which we steal from ourselves and from others, and how we might approach the world with a mentality of abundance, rather than lack, so that we may go forward not only in an attitude of non-stealing, but also in an attitude of faith and gratitude.

Brahmacharya is often interpreted as celibacy, though we will be interacting with this yama from a modern interpretation of non-excess. We often see excess express itself in our addictions to things like screens, food, sex, work, alcohol and drugs. Most individuals have some unhealthy habits or fixations, no matter how big or how small, which they use in excess in effort to avoid facing pain, boredom or other perceived negative emotions. In this session, we look to brahmacharya as a mechanism for highlighting parts of our lives that remain unhealed.

Often, the cultures in which we live can place emphasis on the appearance of things—the appearance of a relationship, the appearance of a home or how many possessions one has, or the appearance of self, whether in terms of physicality or talent or success. This type of pressure, both external and internal, can cause us to become fearful of loss, and therefore, possessive of certain aspects of our lives. Yet, this fear signifies a belief in lack and it is through that fear that we actually begin to miss out on the very things that we are afraid of losing. In exploring aparigraha, we will work to shift our mentality from that of lack to that of abundance. We will explore how gratitude for all that already exists in our lives can shift us from fearful, greedy mentalities to mentalities of generosity and contentment.

For some, the notion of purity carries negative connotations - conjuring memories of dogmatic religions or images of beautiful, yet helpless, fairy tale princesses. It also signals potential judgement or rigidity, as if everything is either pure or impure. Yet, when exploring purity in this yogic context, we're going to look at the ways in which we might cleanse our everyday lives and practices--how we can live as our authentic selves and how we can live as if each action is an offering. So, in what ways do our purchases, our living spaces, our media consumption or our conversations with others affect us? How do they either cleanse or pollute us? What happens when we approach each day with a heart set on authenticity and love for ourselves and for others?

How often do you find yourself thinking about what you'll eat at your next meal, but then during the meal, you find yourself fantasizing about dessert, then, during dessert, thinking about a bath or your bed or a glass of wine or something other than what you're doing in that very moment? So often, we anticipate moments and then miss them when they arrive. Santosha, or contentment, is about living in the present. Santosha brings us to gratitude and to acceptance for our life in the present. This day focuses on strategies to bring us back to the present and increase the wellspring of our gratitude.

The word Tapas is derived from the Sanskrit root "tap," which means "to burn." Tapas teaches us to follow our passions with discipline and courage, as well as to strive to be as healthy in mind, body and spirit as possible. While the word "discipline" may conjure feelings of fear or resistance, we can look to tapas as a fire that burns away the very fears it brings out. What scares you about following your passions? What stops you from having consistent practices that improve your wellbeing? Tapas allows us to expand into our full potential and live our most radiant lives.

What do you believe about human nature? How do you see the general state of the world? How quickly do you react to frustrations in anger? When do you experience unity or oneness with the universe? On this day, we're going to examine techniques that can help us better understand ourselves. Svadhyaya is all about self-study--both in terms of our mindless habits, as well as our inner world. By living an examined life, we can begin to discover the parts of ourselves that remain unhealed and then begin the crucial work of healing and unifying.

We leave Ishvara Pranidhana for the final day, because the work of surrender is some of the most challenging of all - and yet, it is also some of the most freeing. Often we seek to control our lives. We schedule. We over-schedule. We bastardize practices in effort to control our bodies. We stay in unhappy relationships. We try to be the people we believe we are supposed to be. Our ego does its best to keep everything in check so that we can believe that we are in control. Today, we look at what we clutch, what ego identifications hold us back from grace, and we begin the deep work of surrender.